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DETROIT -- The rising tide of the film industry in Michigan continues with the recent developments of a film studio at Pontiac and Wonderstruck Studios LLC, which will be headquartered at the old MGM Grand Detroit Casino -- right next to the new one. Chris Baum, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for FilmDetroit.com, stated that the advantages of mainstream films being shot in the state include residents giving the opportunity to work as either volunteers and/or extras as well as to the creation of several job opportunities for those interested in working behind the scenes such as crew.

"Wonderstruck Studios, as announced, is going to be an animation studio and also do computer generated effects for movies and also work in the video gaming field," said Chris Baum of FilmDetroit.com. "Anything computer generated would be focus on this facility. They did hope to have it open by the end of 2009. It will have a multi-million dollar impact in the long run."

Wonderstruck Studios LLC will be responsible for computer graphics, video games, and animated film and television projects aimed for children and families. The Pontiac studio is going to be resposnible for shooting the live action, and there's going to be one created in Sterling Heights that's in the works.

"There may be thousands of new jobs but we have tens of thousands of people available," Baum said. "A lot of people come to us and say 'How do I get a job in films?' You have to have some training, be creative as the way you put things on your resume, show you have experience that matters and you have to be persistent. Hundreds and thousands of people will have jobs as a result of the film industry."

Movies such as American Virgin with Rob Schneider were recently shot in downtown Detroit at Greektown, and now an upcoming movie starring George Clooney will also be shot here in Michigan. The last film the Oscar winner did with Michigan as a setting was the 1998 Steven Sodenbergh cool crime caper Out of Sight, in which he starred as an suave, smooth bank robber who falls in love with the beautiful U.S. Marshal assigned to capture him, played by Jennifer Lopez.

"We promoe everything that's film friendly and film relevant in metro Detroit," the senior vice president of sales and marketing said. "We're the only organization spending over half a million dollars to promote the film industry in this part of the state. Forty-two percent incentive. The maximum in the country right now. We are still number one and nobody's matched it. A lot of other states are looking at capping or changing their incentives. Michigan is full speed ahead."

However, according to Baum, for most interested in getting their "big break", it's not as glamorous, romantic, and easy as it looks onscreen -- because they'll soon realized that it's just a job. But most of all, just like everything else in life, it takes training, dedication, discipline, and hard work.

"We do have some anecdotal evidence that former Michigan residents are coming back to the state," Baum said.

For more information, you can contact Mr. Baum at cbaum@filmdetroit.com, or go online at www.FilmDetroit.com.

RELATED STORY: Detroit Metro Airport offers four unique terminals for filmmakers

 

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The covered walkway between the parking garages.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The parking garage is in need of a paint job.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Small office attached to the parking garage.

 

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The huge parking garage.

 

PHOTO BY GARRETT GODWIN / ©AMERICAJR.com

Another look at the huge parking deck.

 

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